December 9, 2005—BJ’s Wholesale Club in Saratoga, New York is using energy from the sun to help power its store, thanks to a cutting-edge solar energy system on its rooftop. The system, using solar panels manufactured by Evergreen Solar, Inc., is BJ’s largest North American solar installation.
The technology was unveiled to the public at a recent store event, where guests toured the system to learn how it uses the sun’s power to save energy and help protect the environment.
The 80,000 square-foot 100-kilowatt system, consisting of 912 photovoltaic (PV) panels covering nearly the entire roof of the building, has been running smoothly since starting operations last spring. Operating year-round, it should produce over 100,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to power 13 average homes, says Evergreen. The installation is also expected to offset the release of more than 100,000 pounds of carbon dioxide—a leading cause of global warming—and other harmful greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere each year. A permanent in-store display allows shoppers to view information about the solar power system, Evergreen notes.
BJ’s Wholesale Club has embarked on a chain-wide program to purchase energy from clean resources. Working with the Sun Power Electric division of Conservation Services Group, which installed the Saratoga system, BJ’s now has rooftop solar power plants operating on several stores throughout the Northeast.
Evergreen Solar, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets solar power products using the company’s proprietary low-cost manufacturing technologies, says the company. For more information, visit its Web site.
